This elegant dish would make a lovely entrée for a special-occasion dinner.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 8
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Blend first 8 ingredients in processor until mixture is finely chopped.
Step 2
Using tip of small sharp knife, make about twenty 1 1/2-inch-deep incisions all over pork loin. Press 1 generous teaspoonful of pancetta paste into each incision. Rub remaining paste over outside of pork. Arrange bay leaves in bottom of roasting pan. Place pork loin atop bay leaves. Cover; let pork stand at room temperature 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.
Step 3
Preheat oven to 375°F. Sprinkle pork with salt. Roast 45 minutes. Pour 1 1/2 cups stock into pan. Continue to roast until thermometer inserted into center registers 155°F, adding more stock if it evaporates and basting pork with juices occasionally, about 45 minutes longer.
Step 4
Transfer pork to cutting board. Discard bay leaves. Transfer pan juices to small saucepan. Skim fat from top of juices; boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Cut pork into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer to platter. Pour juices over. Surround with fennel and lemon wedges (squeeze lemon over fennel at table).
